King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 50

The King of the Underworld is Tired Episode 50 (50/82)

Hephaestus’s Story – (1)

Some time ago, after dealing with the aftermath of King Oedipus’s rampage in Thebes…

I was distributing authority to those who had newly become my priests.

“May Hades’s blessing be upon you…”

“Guardian deity of Thebes…”

Even though my temple was in danger of being destroyed by Oedipus,

Is it because my direct descent inspired more faith compared to Dionysus, who only sent a divine beast?

“Dionysus sent a divine beast, but the Lord of the Underworld came in person, you know?”

“There are hardly any people in Thebes who aren’t his followers.”

“Of course, how many people living in Thebes haven’t received Pluto’s grace?”

Thanks to that, only the priests of the temple became busier.

Managing the people who come every day, verifying those who want to become new priests…

Penedea, who became the new high priest after the previous one stepped down, is also complaining of fatigue.

Among those who have newly become priests…

There was someone very familiar.

“Hehe… Handsome and omnipotent Hades-niim…”

Bright, light turquoise hair… A water nymph, a Naiad [a type of Greek nymph associated with bodies of fresh water].

Mente, whom I met near Mount Etna last time?

She was offering prayers to me.

Surprisingly, her faith is so strong that a descent [divine possession] is possible into her body.

“Mente, how did you become my priest?”

“Haa! Lord Hades!”

When I spoke to her telepathically, Mente was startled.

The gazes of other believers gathered at Mente’s reaction.

“Did Lord Hades speak to you?”

“As expected of the one who created mint…”

“She is favored by Lord Hades…”

The Naiad, who moved to a quiet place for a moment, smiled brightly and put her hands together again.

“I heard that there is a temple of Lord Hades in Thebes, so I came all the way here!”

“Aren’t you a nymph from near Mount Etna? How did you get to Thebes…?”

A nymph is an entity that can be described as a fairy dwelling in nature or objects.

If the place where she dwells is destroyed, the nymph also dies.

Therefore, most nymphs usually do not stray far from the place where they dwell…

“It’s because I wanted to serve Lord Hades! There are goddesses, but even in this world…”

Is it because I spread mint widely and made it my symbol that she is doing this?

That’s a fair reward, and it’s the treatment you deserve.

“If you can’t protect your origin, you could suddenly be in danger at any time. Even so…”

“I’m okay! I asked other nymphs for help too!”

Even if you asked friendly nymphs living nearby to protect your origin,

Isn’t that like a human leaving their heart behind and going far away?

I was speechless, but Mente smiled brightly and said.

“Umm… I heard that Lord Hades sometimes descends into the bodies of priests…”

“That’s right, but…?”

“Then, if you were to descend into my body, would that mean becoming one with Lord Hades… Kyaaak!”

A glimpse of Zeus’s fragment was seen on Mente’s face.

As expected of a Greek fairy, she’s a little strange in the head too…

“Next time you descend, please, into my body…!”

Isn’t she scared of me…?

Not only other nymphs but even gods tremble when they see me…

Come to think of it, when I revealed my identity on Mount Etna, she asked me to spend time with her as a reward…

Is it because of the rumor of Pluto, the god of mercy, that has spread in Thebes?

Well, she’s cute in her own way, so it’s fine.

* * *

I cut off the connection to the mortal realm and took some time to work.

The story that Gaia [the primordial goddess of the Earth] corrupted Oedipus, the hero of Thebes, has already been conveyed to Olympus.

I explained to Dionysus that it was because of Gaia…

The patrols of Tartarus [the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked] and Mount Etna were also completed last time.

There are no more heinous criminals that Minos [a King of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa] can’t judge…

Finally, I can rest a little, right?

Just as I was about to lean comfortably on the throne,

The goddess of oaths opened the door and came in.

“Hades. Are you perhaps free right now?”

Goddess Styx [a Titaness and goddess of the River Styx]?

“What’s the matter? Did Thanatos [the personification of death] run away again…?”

“Hephaestus [the Greek god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes] has come to the entrance of the underworld and says he wants to consult with you.”

“Hephaestus, you say? Let him in for now.”

What kind of consultation does Hephaestus have for me?

Is there a human among the dead souls that Hephaestus cherishes?

After waiting for a while, Hephaestus, the lame god with a naive face, came in.

The world’s best blacksmith god, for some reason, didn’t look very good.

“Uncle Hades, thank you for seeing me even though you must be busy.”

“You, who made the Bident [Hades’s two-pronged spear], are welcome to come to the underworld at any time.”

I called a maid, brought out nectar, and offered it to Hephaestus.

He emptied the golden cup in one gulp and said to me.

“Aphrodite [the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation] is too cold to me… Uncle…”

“Ah…”

Aphrodite is famous for having relationships with other male gods despite being married to Hephaestus.

Hephaestus must know this fact…

“I’ve worked so hard to win the heart of the goddess of beauty, but she doesn’t even give me any attention. Would you believe that I haven’t even been able to sleep with her once since we got married?”

* * *

Not even once?

Wow… Was it that bad…

I even gifted her the Cestus Himas [a magical girdle said to make the wearer irresistible], a bewitching belt filled with magic,

And I made everything Aphrodite asked me to make.

“But why are you consulting me about this? If you’re a popular male god, there are Apollo [the Greek god of music, arts, knowledge, healing, plague, prophecy, poetry, manly beauty, and archery] and other gods, right?”

Hephaestus glanced at Goddess Styx next to me and said.

“That is… Uncle, you are busy day and night, but you are very popular with the goddesses, aren’t you?”

“Uh…”

“There are many goddesses in Olympus who want to spend a night with Uncle Hades.”

Are you talking about all those nieces and grandnieces, those young children?

Actually, I think there are many goddesses who are drawn to me because of my position as one of the three main gods.

“And most of all…!”

“…?”

“There was a rumor that my wife wanted to spend a night with you so much that she came down to the underworld… Of course, I believe you, Uncle, but…”

Hephaestus’s muscular body and round eyes drooped gloomily.

Don’t worry… Unlike a certain king of the gods [Zeus], I don’t commit adultery…!

“Yes, thank you for trusting me. I swear on the Styx River that I have not had a relationship with your wife.”

“I knew you would say that! As expected of the iron wall of the divine realm…”

The iron wall of… what…?

I glared at Hephaestus with a dumbfounded face, and he coughed and lowered his head.

“Ahem. I’m sorry. The dignified lord of the underworld…”

“Stop saying strange things, and anyway, you wanted to get advice, didn’t you?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Let’s think about why Aphrodite dislikes Hephaestus.

First of all… it must be his appearance.

Hephaestus was born to Hera [the goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family] and Zeus,

He was born with an ugly face and a limp, and Hera was so disappointed that she threw him under the clouds.

After falling for nine days and crashing on the island of Lemnos, Hephaestus later took revenge on Hera and reconciled with her, but…

Anyway, his appearance is not competitive compared to other prominent gods.

As I quietly organized my thoughts, disappointment gradually settled in Hephaestus’s eyes.

His head drooped more and more, and he seemed to be gaining the divinity of gloom.

Even so, he was drooping too much, so I said something…

Ah…! One idea came to mind.

“No… um… how about trying a different method?”

“Yes…?”

“Rather, make Aphrodite regret neglecting you and make her obsessed with you…”

Hephaestus loves his wife even though they have a bad relationship.

That’s why he made everything she asked for and gave her the Cestus Himas.

“So, if you refuse Aphrodite’s requests from now on and take an indifferent attitude towards her…!”

When I said this far,

Goddess Styx, who had been listening quietly, interrupted me.

“Hades! You can’t do that!”

“Then, does the goddess have another way to make Hephaestus’s family harmonious?”

“Um… First of all, that method won’t work! Wouldn’t Goddess Aphrodite rather like it and meet more male gods?”

She would rather like it, what is this…

Still, they are a couple, so surely there is some affection…?

Goddess Styx steps forward with a confident face.

Unlike me, she is a goddess like Aphrodite, so she might have a way.

“Hera is the goddess of the household, so why don’t you ask for her help?”

“Goddess Styx… Of course, I tried that method, but it was useless.”

“Then, make something that moves the goddess’s heart, like the Cestus Himas…”

“I already have dozens of similar things in my forge…”

“Then… then!”

“No. You don’t have to say any more. There’s no way…”

The steadfast blacksmith god sheds tears sadly.

He has the position of one of the twelve Olympian gods and the reputation of being the world’s best blacksmith,

“My ugly face… my limp… I guess it’s not Aphrodite’s taste…”

“Ah…”

Right now, he is just a pitiful man who has not won the heart of one goddess he loves.

Me and Goddess Styx couldn’t bring ourselves to speak.